Electric switch.



('2. 1. KLEIN. ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPLICATION 'HLED MAY 31, I911.

Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

C. J. KLEIN. ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED MA'YgI, 1911.

Patented De0.7,191 5.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- if UNITED srairns PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES J". KLEIN, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, AS SIGNOB- TO THE CUTLER-HAMMER MFG. 00., OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH,

Application filed May 31, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES J. KLEIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of \Visconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a full. clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to electric switches.

It more especially relates to electric switches of the feed through type described in my co-pending application Serial No. 628,781, filed May 22, 1911; but as in the case of the switch shown in that application it is not limited in its application to switches of this type, but may be used in various types of switches and in widely modified forms.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved electric switch device.

A further object of my inven ion is to provide an improved switch device equipped with a self-contained switch unit which is evceedingl compact and serviceable and which may be readily assembled and removed when desired.

Other objects and advantages of my improved construction will hereinafter appear.

in the accompanying drawings 1 have shown one form which my invention may assume in practice and I Shell for purposes of illustration herein describe my invention as applied to this form which is of the feed through type.' but my invention is neither limited in its use to the specific form chosen nor to switches of this specific type.

Figure 1 shows a partial central longif tudinal sectional view of the assembled switch. Fig. 2 shows a central sectional View. on line 22 of Fig. 1. a central sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 shows a transverse sectional view on line 44 of Fig. 1. Fig. oshows a perspective view of the self-eontained switch mechanism. Fig. 6 shows a sectional view on line (i -6 of. Fig. 1. Fig. 7 shows a sectional view on line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

In these drawings 1 have illustrated a switch mechanism of the push button type inclosed between the two parts of a casing in which the switch mechanism is housed and mounted in a frame carried by the two parts of the casing so that the switch mechs Specification of Letters Patent.

Fig. 3 shows- Patented Dec. *7, 1915.

Serial No. 630,388.

anism is entirely self-contained and may be readily removed from the casing when de-v sired. This swLi tchi mechanism is preferably of the type described in my priorPatent 985,421,patcnted February 28, 1911, and includes a reciprocable cam member 1 rectangular cross section formed in the twoi '75 parts of a casing T and Sas to he supported centrally in the same and extend transversely across the casing so that the push buttons 2 pass through oppositely disp sed alined recesses 9 in the opposite sides of the ,I

casing. In a preferred form the-"frame 5is provided with parallel sides 10which extend transversely across the recess 6 and are located substantially centrally between the top and bottom of the recess. of the frame 5 is provided with a side 11. preferably integral with the sides 10, of substantially rectangular shape and provided with a convex spacing strip 19 having a central perforation 13 arrangmi to per- 99 mit the reciprocation of the push buttons and having a flange 11 around the edge of the perforation arranged to engage the edge of the cam 1 to limit its movement.

In a preferred form the side 11 is of sub- 95 stantially the same size as the chamber 6 and is adapted to fit within the same and be secured to theside wall of the same by screws 15 on opposite sides of the push buttons which-are housed in suitable recesses 19(5 in the outer surface of the casing member 7 and extend inward through perforations 16 in the side 11. In apreferred form the heads of the screws 15 may be sealed Further in a preferred into their recesses. form an insulating washer 18 is provided between the outer surface of the side 11 and the side wall of the chamber 6. This washer is preferably so fashioned as to permit screws 15 and the convex portion 12 of 11.5

A reciprocable contactor 3, herein- The switch One of the ends the side 11 to pass through the same and in a preferred form the .wall of the casing 7 is cut away as at 19 in order to receive the convex portion 12 as shown in Fig. 4.

b The cam member has one of its push buttons extending through. the perforation 13 in the convex portion 12 on the side 11 and the contactor 3 is arranged to reciprocate upon the cam member as shown in Fig.

between the sides 10 on the frame The opposite ends of the frame 10 are preferably provided with reduced shanks which pass through transversely extending grooves 21;

in the sides of a substantially rectangular 15 shaped base member 22. This base 22 is preferably formed of an insulating material and is arranged to carry the terminal contacts for the switch mechanism against the opposite wall of the chamber 6. In a pre- 10 ferred form the base 22 is provided with longitudinally disposed parallel grooves 23 on its opposite sides in which are seated the terminal members 24 of the switch mecha-- nism in such a position that when the con- 25 tactor 3 is reciprocated by the movement of the cam member 1, the contact surfaces or" the contactor will engage with the outside of these terminal members. In a preferred form the outer longitudinal edges of the base 22 are cut away along the side of the terminals 24 as at 25 in order to permit the free movement of the contactor. A perforation 26', tapered as shown in Fig. 4, is provided in the base 22 in a substantially cen- 86 tral position between the terminals 24 and between the sides 10 of the frame 5. As illustrated in t the end of the cam member is arranged to pass through this perforation and in a preferredv form the 4. sides 11 of the frame 10 are provided with a connecting member 27 which at the same time serves as a stop for-the cam member. As illustrated in Fig. 4 the side wall of the chamber 6, in back of the base 22, is out 65 away as at 28 to form a substantially tapered circular recess of a greater diameter than the recess 9 'through which the push buttons extend. The combined stopping and connecting member 27- is arranged to be seated in this recess and in order to enable it to assist in holdinsz the parts in assembled relation it is provided with bifurcated feet 29 arranged to pass around on opposite sides of each of the arms 20 so that aportion of the member 27 will be inclosed between the side wall of the casing 6 and the back of the base 22 while the remaining central portion of I the member 27 will extend outward to form a stop for the cam member similar to the stop provided on the other end of the frame.

In a preferred form the ends of the extensions 20. on the frame sides 10 are screw threaded as at 30. These ends extend through suitable perforations in the. side walls of the chamber-.5 communicating with suitable recesses in the outer surface of the casing 8 and-are arranged to be secured in these recesses by suitable taps 31. If desired these taps may be sealed in these recesses. In a preferred form the terminal members 2% are provided with extensions which pass through the bottoms of the grooves 23 to the back of the base 22 where they are suitably riveted or otherwise secured to holding strips 32 which extend along the upper and lower edges of the base 22 and in a preferred form lie substantially flush with the back of the "same. Further the terminals 24 are preferably provided at one of their ends with shanks 33 extending at right a glee to the body portions of the terminals. In a preferred form the shanks 33 and the terminal members 24. are formed in the saine piece and are bent into the proper shape. Upon the free ends of the shanks 33 enlarged. heads 34 are provided extending substantially at right angles to the shanks 33 and provided with ears 35 to enable connections to be readily made to binding posts 36. In a preferred form the casing 8 is provided with a recess 37 com-- municating with the upper and lower walls of the chamber (5 at one side of' the same which isadapted to receive the shanks 33 of the terminal members. Further, above and below the recess 37 and communicating with the same areenlar zed recesses 38 arranged to house the enlarged head of the terminal shanks 33 and provided with suitable means for housing the threaded ends of the bind ing screws 36. I These recesses 38 communicate with enlarged substantially semi-spherical recesses 39 formed in the adjacent parts of the adjoining casings. These recesses 39 communicate with longitudinally disposed of the casing having transversely extending grooves-41. Thus it is seen that the conductors for the switch may pass down through the grooves 40 and through insulating washers 41 carried in the transv'erse'grooves 41 j to the binding screws'of the sw tch mecha- 'nism' and that if desired they may be knotted and held in place in the'chambers 39.

In order to permit one oftheconductor's to pass down through the switch in the man-.

ner required in switches of this type I provide a suitable groove 42 near one side of each of the casing members 7 and 8. This groove is formed in the parts of the casing members which are adapted to be clamped together when the parts are assembled and in a preferred form passes around the switch mechanism as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, communicating with the chambers 39 at the top 'izo and bottom of the casing. In a preferred form a raisedport'pn 43 is provided in the trough of the groove in the casing member 8 as shown in Fig. and a depressed portion 4.4 is provided in the trough of the groove 105 grooves 40 formed between the parts 7 and 8 No. 628,782, filed integral with the body portion ill.

spacing I meshes in the'easing member 7 as shown in Fig. 2 so thatwhen the conductor is placed in the groove and the parts are assembled this conductor is firmly gripped by the raised portion. 43 and forced into the depressed portion 44 to hold it securely in place In a preferred form 1 preferably provide a slight wall e5 around the edges of each of the casinc; members 7' and 8. and l prefemhli pro vide casing members of a substantially oval longitudinal cross section when assembled, as shown in Fig. i. This construction is very neat in appearance and permits the switch mechanism to he very compactly housed. j

In Fig. 5 .l have illustrated the construction of en imprirred form. of contactor.

This contactor is preferably formed of a single sheet of stamped metal and is of the general construction of the contactor described in my co-pending application Serial L LS 19' scribed in that application the contactor is provided with a body portion i l having rearwardly extending: rounded shoulders 4'7- provided with suitable notches 58 and projections l9 arranged to tahe the impact when the cont-actor engages the walls of the casing and conserve the shape oi the contactor. Furthen the contactor provided with the contact sides 5 having): out-turned peaked edges 51, and as in the previous construction these sides are preferably tormed and are provided with slot 32 to permit the expansion of the spring: as well as slots 33 in the edges of the sides arranged to receive a spacing strip. However in Lhis instance l have prm'ided l this conta'ctor with a piur; l ity of spacing: strips 5i oi a similar conformation to the spacing strips (lescrihed in that applicatimn and siniiiurlv secured to the hodj. portion of the contactor. 'l hcso strips are. fnrtheiu located in differcnt positions in the rontn'ctor. one of the same being positioned so that lied portion rests against the hat portion of the lHlCli oi the conhictor and the other being spaced apart l ronri'his spur-ii;'meinhcr ii a. suili cient (listain'e to enable the garter spring 4 to lirhoused l.-clwccn the two sparing incinlicrs. hurrhrr in n preferred form l con-- struct thcsc spa: i 4 uremia-rs o insu siug' nmtcrial so that i ol' (fll'tlllll.

As in the case oi the construe-lion scribed in my previous application the coin tactor is arranged to reciprocate across the casing: upon the reciprocation oi the can: n'xcznhcr in an opposite direction and due to the spring contained within the contuctor is arranged in reciprocate with a very quick iap action to mahc'or iii-cal; circuit at the terminals. [is shown in his; the circuit would he broken thc terminals 3 1- zznd the .and are so arranged that the limits of the movement of the switch mechanism, that is both the contactor and the cam, will he established on one side by engagement with the frame 10 and upon the other side by engagement with the terminal contacts 2%. the base 22 and the stop 27 carried hy the frame. As in the case of the previous construction these limits of travel are reached substantially simultaneously and the shape of the contact-or is conserved by causing the impact to be. taken upon the raised portions on its rounded shoulders when thrown to open circuit position.

By my improved construction l have been able to provide a compact and simple selfcontained switch mechanism which may be readily placed in position in the switch casing and readily removed from the same Further the contact members for the switch are ampl protected and securel housed so as to permit of long continued use in service entire switch mechanism may he readily removed if de sired by simply removing the taps on the ends of the extensions 20 and the screws 15. If it is desired only to obtain access to the switch mechanism all that it is necessar i to do is to remove the screws 17 whenone of the halves of the casing may he removed and the entire switch mechanism becomes accessiole. Thus it is seen that the two parts of securing them to a frame whicl'i incloses the switch mechanism and that the casing; may be separated or the mechanism readily removed from the same as desired. Further by the provision of the groove extending through the casing and the means for clampinc the conductor in this groove l have provi ed a positive means for preventing the relative movement of the conductor with respect to the casing. and accurately positionin z the some in thy casing. Other advantages of my in'iproved construction will readily :ippear to those skilled in the art.

l'hile l have in this application described one specific form which my invention may assume in practice i have chosen this form only a; a means of illustrating the principle of my invention which may assume various other forms and he widely modified and used in switches of iliilcrent types consequently l do not wish to he limited to the specific form chosen for purposes oi illustr lion. hut rather wish to cover all the l ms oi my invention which fall in the scope of the appended claims.

What 1 claim as new by Letters Patent is as follows? l. In an electric switch. a base. a pair of spaced parallel contacts thereon having free outer contact laces. means for bridging said contactscomprising a sheet metal comm-tor having av hody portion and parallel spaced contact portions for engagement with said and desire to secure the switch casing are secured together by m n .oontactor arranged to reciprocate said ca ;member, and means for insulating outer faces, operating means for said contactor including a spring disposed between said contact portions thereof and a pairof spaced insulating strips on opposite sides of 5 said spring and interlocked with said contact portions for insulating said spring therefrom and from said contacts.

2. In .an electric switch, a reciprocating cam member of the conformation of a double frustiim "positioned base to base, a sheet thereon, said contactprhaving a body por- 'tion and contact surfaces substantially at right angles to said body portion, a spr ng finclosedwithin said contactor and gripping In'an electric switch, a reciprocating cam member of the conformation of a double It p cam mem'berof the conformation of a double m gfrustum positioned base to base, a sheet nan contsctoi' arranged. to reciprocate thereon, said contactor having a body portion and contact surfaces substantially at right angles to said body portion, a spring '35 in'closed within said contactor and gripping said cam member, and means for spacing apart the contact surfaces of said contactor and insulating said spring.

5. A self-contained switch mechanism in- 40 eluding end portions, means connecting said end portions to form a. frame. a reciprocating snap switch mechanism guided and limited in its movement by said frame. and terminal members carried by one of said end 415' portions on opposite sides of said switch mechanism, said terminal contacts having shanks extending substantially at right vangles to their body portions and carrying I binding screws. ii. A self-contained switch mechanism ineluding end members, means connecting said end members to form a frame, a push button operated snap switch mechanism guided ani' limited in its movement by said end mem bers, terminal contacts carried by one of said end members arranged in parallel planes on opposite sides of said switch mechanism, said terminal contacts having shanks at their ends extending at right angles to their body portions and formed integral therewith.

7 A self-contained switch mechanism, including end members, means connecting said end members to form a frame, a, push button operated snap switch mechanism inclosed in said frame and guided and limited in its movement by said frame, terminal contacts carried by one end of said end members having integral shanks extending at right angles from the body portion of the terminal members, the body portion of said terminal members being riveted to'one of said end. members. Y

8. In an electric switch device, a push button operated snap switch mechanism, end members arranged to guide and limit the same in its movement, side membersconnecting said end members to form a frame, said side members extending beyond one of said-,

end members. and a two part base, one part of said base being attached to the ends of said side members and the other part attached to the other of said. end members.

9. In an electric switch device, a push button operated snap switch mechanism, end members guiding and limiting the movement of said switch mechanism, side members connecting said end members to form a frame, said side members being provided with reduced ends extending through grooves in one of said end members and a two part casing attached to and inclosing said switch mechanism.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses. I

CHARLES J. KLEIN Witnesses:

H. L. RooKwnLn, J. S. BuocK. 

